John Negroponte's appointment is the latest evidence that President Bush is strengthening his cabinet's capacity to mislead Congress and trample civil liberties.

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/hail_hail_the_gangs_all_here.php

by Dan Zegart, The Nation

Today the radical right cheers and citizens mourn as President Bush signs the class-action bill.

http://www.tompaine.com/opinion/#003812

Tierschutz: Besorgnis um das Überleben von Gemeinen Delfinen im Englischen Kanal (18.02.05)

Die Ergebnisse einer Studie an Gemeinen Delfinen im Englischen Kanal während der Wintermonate haben die Besorgnis um das Überleben dieser Tiere verstärkt. Die Wal- und Delfinschutzorganisation WDCS fordert zusammen mit Greenpeace ein Verbot der Seebarsch-Schleppnetzfischerei im Kanal. In einem neuen Bericht geben Wissenschaftler der WDCS eine vorläufige Schätzung von 9700 Gemeinen Delfinen in dem Gebiet des Kanals, in dem während der Studie im vergangenen Winter auch die Hauptfischereiaktivitäten stattfanden.

Die ganze Nachricht im Internet:

http://www.ngo-online.de/ganze_nachricht.php4?Nr=10489

Bush-Demontration in Mainz: Bush-Gegner klagen gegen "unbegründete" Demo-Auflagen! (18.02.05)

Im Vorfeld des Besuchs von US-Präsident George W. Bush in Mainz gibt es Streit um Auflagen der Stadt für die Gegendemonstration. Das Aktionsbündnis "Not Welcome, Mr. Bush!" hat deshalb Widerspruch bei der Stadt eingelegt sowie eine Klage beim Mainzer Verwaltungsgericht eingereicht, wie Bündnissprecher Andreas Atzel am Freitag in Mainz sagte. Die Auflagen sollten Größe der Transparente und den Standort der Bühne für die Abschlusskundgebung festlegen. Atzel nannte das "inakzeptabel".

Die ganze Nachricht im Internet:

http://www.ngo-online.de/ganze_nachricht.php4?Nr=10481

Wie US-Justizminister Gonzales und US-Heimatschutzminister Chertoff ist auch Negroponte mit Menschenrechtsverletzungen und Folter verbunden...

http://www.telepolis.de/tp/r4/artikel/19/19487/1.html

http://www.totse.com/en/conspiracy/institutional_analysis/165501.html

Informant: Mark Marks

NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2005

1. "TONIGHT WITH TREVOR McDONALD"

Broadcast ITV1 on 7 th February 2005 at 8.00pm. Highlighted at prime viewing time many of the issues raised by the Trust with the programme makers on the problems of electromagnetic radiation and its impact on an unsuspecting public. Well done Gerard Hyland and Eileen O’Connor for their contributions and also to the producers. The links are undernoted with the Trust featuring highly.

http://www.itv.com/news/tonight_878099.html


2. SECOND DELOITTE REVIEW ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TEN COMMITMENTS

The Mobile Operators released their report of the code of best practice January 2005. You have to scroll down the page and the section is entitled “Second Deloitte Review on the Implementation of the Ten Commitments”.

http://www.mobilemastinfo.com/planning/best_practice.htm


3. STAKE-HOLDER ROUNDTABLE MEETING 9 TH DECEMBER 2004

Arranged by Mobile Operators Association (MOA).

The main issues raised by one or more of the key stakeholders present were as follows:-

Re-establish community representative/activist and industry dialogue
Predicted power density calculations to be made publicly available
TLM ratings for de minimis developments should be made publicly available
Sitefinder database should be externally audited
PPG8 should be reviewed and clarified
The All Party Mobile report should be acted upon by Central Government
A clear definition of consultation should be established, and a calibration system, outlining responsibilities for consultation, should be introduced
Operators should ‘consult on health’, by providing balanced information
The planning system should clarify how to address the health issue
Health information should be provided through a credible, independent body
All base stations should be certified, based on their emissions
There should be improved publicity for the Ofcom RF monitoring service
Use of a broadband meter in RF monitoring should be considered
Treasury money from the £G auction should be used to fund further research or a public information system
A MTHR web-based Q&A facility may offer a credible, trusted information source – but this should be tested first
MTHR should allocate research funds into effective communication of the science
A standardised set of cross-industry information should be developed and sent out with all planning permission
A communications audit should be held
A planning roundtable should be held
Central contact points for each operators should be provided to all LPAs
LPAs should advise operators if agents are not applying the Code of Best Practice
The outcome of pre-application consultation should be forwarded to the LPA
The full report including papers presented should be available shortly on line. The MOA have promised that this will be later this month.

Alasdair Philips and Trust Chairman Mike Bell contributed vociferously to the debate along with Mast Action. But where are the sanctions to keep the industry in check? Are they in the courts? See the next item - The Nunn’s Story.


4. NUNN’S STORY - ONE OF REJECTION – AGAIN – IN THE ENGLISH COURT OF APPEAL 9 TH FEBRUARY 2005 – YORKSHIRE POST REPORT

The fight by Dr Nunn to overcome Leeds City Council being time-barred on the 56 day rule from objecting to T Mobile’s new 40 foot mast, 130 yards from her home in Bardsey, has been sadly lost in the Court of Appeal. ‘Sue the Council’ was the judges message to Dr Nunn delivered by Lord Justice Wall. The 56 day rule upheld by the Planning Inspector and the High Court again stressed the need for Councils to act speedily within the time-limit and for individuals to see they do.

http://www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=55&ArticleID=940728

It is rough justice for Dr Nunn after spending £35k on legal fees to have to spend more in fees to pursue her case. Whose health is it anyway? Not T-Mobiles but Dr Nunn’s and her family…..

In the absence of real teeth to the so called 10 Commitments and an equivocal attitude towards masts from The Office of Deputy Prime Minister, think alternatives and please act within time-frames if you feel aggrieved at a new masts siting.


5. MASTS PLANNING CONTROL BILL – PROPOSED CHANGES LONG OVERDUE

SECOND READING 18 TH MARCH 2005

After renewed interest in the dangers of mobile phones and masts, Andrew Stunnell MP has presented to Parliament his private members bill, the Telecommunication Masts Planning Control Bill. If passed it will stop companies from putting up mobile masts without consulting local communities and gaining planning approval from the Local Authority. The Bill would bring in the so-called ‘precautionary principle’, giving planners more powers to refuse mast applications. It is due to have its second reading on the 18 th March (though may fail to be read as two other private members bills are scheduled for the same day). Said Andrew Stunnell, “The Government have backed out of repeated promises to change the planning laws. This Bill is long overdue and has cross-party support. It is a chance to make the Government take notice of the concerns of people all over the country.

The Bill would give extra protection to schools, medical facilities and homes from high radiation levels from all telecommunication masts.” (Andrew Stunnell MP, 18/01/05)

There is more than a whiff of General Election fever in the Westminster calendar with 5 th May being widely tipped as ‘E’ Day.


6. RESEARCH - ISRAEL - APRIL 2004

The Wolf’s Paper on the “Increased Incidence of Cancer Near a Cell-phone Transmitter Station” published in the “International Journal of Cancer Prevention”, Volume 1, Number 2, April 2004 found an increased risk of women developing cancer when they lived within 350 metres of a 10 metre high mast – again seems to support the case for exclusion zones.

See latest research with Powerwatch’s comments:

http://www.powerwatch.org.uk/news/20050207_tonight.asp


7. IRISH DOCTORS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCAITION

Congratulations to the Irish Doctors Environmental Association for highlighting the problems of the 5% of the population that may be hypersensitive to electromagnetic radiation and advising people, especially children, to limit their use of phones, and if electro sensitive to try to stay away from mobile phones masts.

See articles by Mark Prigg Science Correspondent Evening Standard – 9 th February 2005

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/16470166?source=Evening%20Standard

and Louise Prigg - Scotsman - 9 th February 2005

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4111721


8. BRITISH COLUMBIA

A local ordinance has been introduced to prohibit the siting of cellular phone masts or antennae on school buildings and grounds:

TITLE: Prohibiting the siting of Cellular Phone Masts or Antennae on School buildings and School grounds.

BET IT RESOLVED THAT: BCCPAC urge school boards and municipal governments to prohibit the siting of cell or mobile phone masts aka antennae in any areas regularly used by students such as school buildings and school ground.

RATIONALE: Parents are concerned about potential health risks to youth and therefore will be concerned about allowing the siting of cell base stations at their schools. There is still much controversy regarding the effects of Radio Frequency Radiation, even at very low levels, on biological systems and scientific research has been unable to provide proven safe exposure limits. Exercising a practice of prudent avoidance and limiting exposures to known or suspected agents such as RFR would be expected especially where there may be additional health risks for children due to their smaller sizes, makeup and less developed bodies that are still undergoing significant physiological changes.

Health problems associated with exposures to RFR include: depression, irritability, headache, ringing in the ears, cardiovascular problems and sleep disruption (1); leukaemia (2); decreased reproductive function (3); motor function, memory and attention of school children affected (4).

Dr Henry Lai, a bioengineer at the University of Washington and leading expert in the bioeffects of electromagnetic radiation has studied this file for 2 decades. He is quoted ”Exposure of RFR from mobile telephones is of a short term, repeated nature at relatively high intensity, whereas exposure to RFR emitted from cell masts is of long duration but at a very low intensity. The biological and health consequences of these exposure conditions need further understanding.” He is also quoted, “I have come to the conclusion that exposure to radio frequency radiation (RFR) from use of mobile phones and possibly from chronic exposure to phone masts and transmission towers, has not been proven to be safe. To deny any possible health effects from RFR emitted from wireless communication devices is scientifically not defensible given the growing evidence of RFR bioeffects.”

A report from the Royal Society of Canada, “A Review of the Potential Health Risks of Radio Frequency Fields from Wireless Telecommunication Devices”, March 1999 has comments and conclusions found within it that indicate there is more research to be done regarding bioeffects of RFR. For example, on page 9, Health Effects, Toxicological Studies they comment “Because DNA damage can result in serious health consequences, the possibly that low energy non-thermal RF filed exposures can cause DNA damage remains a concern. Further research is needed to clarify this possibility.” In the conclusion of this document by an expert panel, on page 109, we find “The panel also believes that many of the studies in humans and animals addressing the potential for adverse health effects do not have sufficient power to rule out completely any possibility of such effects existing. The panel supports additional research in this area.”

Preliminary Study of Symptoms Experienced by People Living in Vicinity of Cellular Phone Base Stations, Santini, R. et al, 2002 Hocking, 1996, Dolk 1997 Magras and Xenos, 1997 Kolodynski, 1996 Two books from journalist B. Blake Levitt are recommended reading:

Cell Towers Wireless Convenience? Or Environmental Hazard? Proceedings of the “ Cell Towers Forum” State of the Science/State of the Law December 2, 2000. Electromagnetic Fields A Consumer’s Guide to the Issues and How to Protect Ourselves. (1995). DESTINATION: B.C. ministry of Education, B.C. Ministry of Children and Family Development, B.C. School Trustees Association, B.C. Association of Municipalities.


9. FORMBY MEETING 17 TH JANUARY 2005

Our Formby meeting filmed by "Trevor McDonald’ was extremely well-attended (around 200 people) and lively. Further meetings in Lancashire have been requested.


10. THE STEWART REPORT MARK II - PUBLISHED 11 TH JANUARY 2005

http://www.radiationresearch.org/press.htm

NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2005:

Following the Stewart Report Mark II, our response is being framed along with that of other pressure groups.

We anticipate this will incorporate some of the views expressed on our website along with those of the Trustees and we will look to Government action to implement a planning regulatory regime more in keeping with its publicly stated adherence to the “Precautionary Principles.”


Michael J Bell
Chairman


Informant: Don Maisch

Cathy Warden discusses the campaign against the mobile mast

Furious residents in Brighton are campaigning against proposals to put up a mobile phone mast in a residential area 200m from a school.

The site at the junction of Pankhurst Avenue and Queens Park Road, is one of more than 12 being considered by T-Mobile for 3G video phone masts.

The company said its masts are safe but it has invited comments about the plans in line with codes of practice.

"Nobody knows what the long-term health effects are," said mother Cathy Warden.

Campaigners say radiation experts cannot guarantee the 3G masts, which operate at higher frequency than normal masts, are completely safe.

The residential area near St Luke's where the mast would be sited

"The fact that we are worried about it is detrimental to our daily lives," said Ms Warden, whose three children go to St Luke's School and who is helping to organise a protest petition.

T-Mobile does not have to apply for planning permission because the mast is less than 15m tall but it does have to obtain a form of permission called prior approval.

The company said it understood residents' concerns but its network's signal strength was similar to those in people's homes from TV and radio.

It said it needed the new masts to meet demand for mobile phones.

But campaigner Paul Bonnet said: "This government talks about neighbourhood renewal and consultation with communities but things seem to be happening without any consultation with local people."


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/southern_counties/4274763.stm

© BBC MMV


Informant: Sandi


Masts in Brighton
http://www.buergerwelle.de/pdf/masts_in_brighton.htm


From Mast Network


DANGER: TETRA on the roof of a Brighton Hospital
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/521829/

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/021705W.shtml


Informant: Debi Clark

One of the most serious threats to Canada's implementation of the Kyoto Protocol is the Government’s reluctance to regulate industry - especially the car industry. Canada's Kyoto plan sets a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from passenger vehicles by 5.2 megatonnes by 2010. However, instead of setting enforceable regulations, as California has done with its Clean Car Legislation, the Canadian government is counting on the auto-industry to lower vehicle emissions voluntarily. While auto-makers have agreed to voluntary reductions, they will not agree to an overall emission standard, and are actively trying to undermine California's Clean Car Legislation.

Tell Prime Minister Martin the auto-industry must be regulated! To ensure we meet our Kyoto obligations, auto-makers must meet targets that are transparent and enforceable. Paul Martin’s decision is not only an important Canadian issue, but could play a significant role in achieving low emission vehicles throughout North America.

Along with Prime Minister Paul Martin, your letter will go to your MP and MLA/MPP if you are in Canada. Please enter your postal code or country to display the appropriate action letter.

http://www.actionworks.ca/clientfiles/syc/actioncentres/syc/takeaction.jsp

Freitag, 18. Februar 2005

Chancen und Risiken neuer Polizeitechnik

Innenministerium will mehr Rechte für die Polizei / Datenschützer warnen

Schwerin • Die Polizei rüstet auf. Ihre technische Ausrüstung zur Verbrechensbekämpfung entwickelt sich rasant. Für den Einsatz sollen Rechtsgrundlagen erweitert werden. Doch vor allem Datenschützer sind skeptisch. Drei Beispiele.

Von Thomas Volgmann

Standortbestimmung über Handy

Mindestens in 80 Fällen ermittelte die Polizei in MV in den vergangenen Jahren den Aufenthaltsort eines Gesuchten allein über dessen Handy. Zumeist handelte es sich nach internen Angaben des Landeskriminalamtes (LKA) bei den Gesuchten um Menschen, die ihren Selbstmord geplant oder zumindest angekündigt hatten.

Möglich wurden die erfolgreichen Suchaktionen auch durch sogenannte IMSI-Catcher der Polizei. Das Gerät simuliert die Funkstation eines Handy-Betreibers. Alle eingeschalteten Handys in der Umgebung buchen sich auf der ständigen Suche nach der besten Funkverbindung automatisch beim IMSI-Catcher ein und liefern Angaben über Telefon- sowie Kartennummern und zeigen ihren Standort an. Darüber hinaus können mit dem Gerät Gespräche abgehört werden.

Doch eindeutige rechtliche Regelungen für den Einsatz fehlen bislang. Dafür will Innenminister Gottfried Timm (SPD) jetzt das Sicherheits- und Ordnungsgesetz ändern.

Allerdings warnt der stellvertretende Datenschutzbeauftragte des Landes, Gabriel Schulz, generell vor dem legitimierten Einsatz von IMSI-Catcher: "Die Gefahr von Missbrauch ist groß, Kontrollen schwierig." Datenschützer anderer Bundesländer verweisen darauf, dass so "der Mobilfunk zur Kontrolle ganzer Bevölkerungsteile verkommt".

Lesesysteme für Kennzeichen

Geplant ist auch der Einsatz von Kennzeichen-Lesesystemen. Bislang kamen diese Geräte in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern noch nicht zum Einsatz. Doch ein System wurde bereits von der Landespolizei angeschafft. Ein Einsatzkonzept wird im LKA erarbeitet. Stationär oder mobil können mit dem Lesesystem die Kennzeichen aller vorbeifahrenden Fahrzeuge erfasst werden. Die Methode soll beim Schutz von Objekten und bei der Fahndung nach gestohlenen Autos zum Einsatz kommen. Datenschützer wie Gabriel Schulz sind nicht generell gegen die neue Fahndungsmethode. "Es muss aber gesetzlich festgelegt sein, das Kennzeichen sofort gelöscht werden, die nicht im Fahndungsbestand sind", fordert Schulz. Nur so könne Datenmissbrauch vorgebeugt werden.

Videoaufnahmen von Verkehrskontrollen

Künftig sollen Personen- und Verkehrskontrollen vom Polizeiwagen aus auf Video aufgezeichnet werden. Dabei geht es um die Eigensicherung der Beamten. "Angriffe können dokumentiert und die Täter schneller gefasst werden", erklärt Innenminister Gottfried Timm.

Hier fordern Datenschützer, dass alle betroffenen Personen über die Aufnahmen aufmerksam gemacht und die Videos spätestens nach 24 Stunden gelöscht werden.

http://www.svz.de/newsmv/MVPolitik/18.02.05/1042130/1042130.html


Nachricht von der BI Bad Dürkheim

(Fixed 1st audio clip) NSA (National Security Agency) insider comes forward with stunning disclosures "Economic Hit Man". Rarely does the public get an opportunity to learn what has really been going on.

John Perkins has "risked it all" by publishing his book ,"Economic Hit Man", only 3 months ago. This will answer a LOT OF QUESTIONS many have been suspecting.

I know most do not like to make time to listen to audio clips. You will want to make an exception this time. Normally, I try to limit my excerpts to 1 or 2 - 10 minute audio segments. The 3 1/2 hour interview had so many disclosures, which we seldom, if ever, learn about, that I could not ignore them...thus the length of this particular set of audio clip excerpts.

I STRONGLY REQUEST THAT THIS GET FORWARDED TO ALL IN YOUR LISTS!

Jack Topel



"Economic Hit Man"

John Perkins, the founder of Dream Change Coalition, shared the story of the time he spent as an international 'economic hit man' after being recruited by the National Security Agency. He defined an 'economic hit man' as someone who assists in cheating developing countries and US taxpayers, by funneling money from the World Bank to the wealthy in the private sector.

Note: first clip has been fixed
1. http://PlayAudio-123.com/play.asp?m=149311&f=KOFPZR&ps=13&p=1
(10 min)
2. http://PlayAudio-123.com/play.asp?m=149210&f=KZGVCX&ps=13&p=1
(10 min)
3. http://PlayAudio-123.com/play.asp?m=149212&f=VUJLDZ&ps=13&p=1
(8 min)
4. http://PlayAudio-123.com/play.asp?m=149216&f=HPPHUG&ps=13&p=1
(10 min)
5. http://PlayAudio-123.com/play.asp?m=149218&f=RVNOPG&ps=13&p=1
(10 min)
6. http://PlayAudio-123.com/play.asp?m=149222&f=BQCYYB&ps=13&p=1
(4 min)

Those wanting to listen to entire 3 1/2 hour interview go to: http://www.coasttocoastam.com/shows/2005/02/15.html

--------

Confessions of an Economic Hit Man

How the U.S. Uses Globalization to Cheat Poor Countries Out of Trillions

We speak with John Perkins, a former respected member of the international banking community. In his book Confessions of an Economic Hit Man he describes how as a highly paid professional, he helped the U.S. cheat poor countries around the globe out of trillions of dollars by lending them more money than they could possibly repay and then take over their economies.

Watch it now! Real video and transcript.
http://207.44.245.159/article8171.htm

Berrylands residents are organising a petition against a mobile phone mast application approved by the council.

They are also furious because they claim there was not enough consultation about the siting of the eight-metre Orange mast in Raeburn Avenue.

Approval for the mast was granted at a Surbiton Neighbourhood Committee meeting on January 26.

The 56 days allowed for objections expires tomorrow. Twenty-one objections were received on grounds of health risk and visual impact.

Sam Saber, manager of Raeburn Autos, said: "I object to the mast on health grounds because there is no scientific evidence that masts are not harmful."

Vanessa Bulbeck, of Meldone Close, claimed many of the residents in the 123 households consulted received a council letter on January 20 about the mast which was dated January 6. This left them just six days before the meeting.

Jim Keywood, who lives in nearby Austin Gardens, said: "We are being rode rough-shod over by the council approving this application."

Surbiton Councillor Patricia Franks said: "The objection is the siting of the mast very near dwellings. But the council cannot object apart from visual impact on surroundings.

"We cannot cite health hazards as a factor because Government guidelines claim they are safe."

The mast is intended to improve coverage from Surbiton Hill Park to the junction of Raeburn Avenue with Elgar Avenue, bounded to the east by Elmbridge Avenue and west by Manor Drive.

An Orange spokesman said: "This is a small transmitter, which needs to be within a few hundred metres of phone-users.

"Because more and more people are buying mobile phones, we need more transmitters for them to work.

"There is no evidence that mobile phone masts cause health risks, given the existing level of precautions."

A council spokeswoman said: "As we didn't receive any objections which raised new planning considerations, prior approval is not required for the siting and appearance of the proposed equipment.

4:01pm Thursday 17th February 2005

http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/headlines/display.var.571449.0.fury_over_councilapproved_mast.php


Informant: Sandi

From Mast Network

Vodafone has made a planning application for a 10m monopole on East End Road, Finchley, adjacent to the Wilf Slack sports ground, near the junction with Windermere Avenue (planning ref: C16110/04).

Together with neighbours and parents at St Theresa's Primary School (which my son attends), we have sent 154 individual letters, plus three petitions, opposing this mobile phone mast.

Our reasons for objection are: current health regulations for masts not yet proven to be adequate; close proximity to St Theresa's, Akiva Primary School and nursery, Avenue House grounds, Wilf Slack sports ground (used by schools who do not have their own playing field) and the Manor House in the Sternberg Centre, which is a grade II* listed building; the proposed mast will be unsuitable for a residential area of traditional character and the sight of the mast as residents walk or drive by will be a constant reminder to those who are worried about health issues associated with masts.

I am particularly concerned as the mast will overlook my back garden and I have two children aged two and seven.

As the Government have accepted £22 billion in licence fees from the five main mobile phone operators, these phone companies now want to get their masts up so that they can obtain widespread 3G coverage.

I predict that Barnet planning department will receive many applications for these masts (four so far in January) and if your readers do not look out for public notices in the papers, or the green, laminated signs attached to lampposts, then they will lose the opportunity to oppose them.

Many of our local residents had no idea about the proposed mast in East End Road and were very concerned to hear about it.

Susan Liu
Pavilion Mews
Finchley

2:00pm Thursday 17th February 2005

© Copyright 2001-2004 Newsquest Media Group - A Gannett Company


From Mast Network

Warning signals

Controversy: mobile phone masts perched on top of a tower block in Bell Lane, Hendon. Despite reassurances from the Government about the safety of such masts, a decision taken last week could result in restrictions on where they are placed

By Lawrence Marzouk

More than 300 mobile phone masts are operating in the borough, with clusters close to primary schools and main shopping districts, research revealed this week.

The announcement that Barnet has 315 masts follows a groundbreaking decision by a Government planning inspector to reject a plan for a mast partly because of fears about electromagnetic waves.

Attempts to install phone antennae near a Manchester school were thwarted last week by inspector George Baird, who, for the first time, acknowledged that such fears were relevant to his decision'.

In Barnet at least six primary schools have five or more mobile phone masts within 400 metres of their gates. Barnfield Primary School, in Silkstream Road, Burnt Oak, has eight masts within 200 metres.

Barnet's High Street has the highest concentration of masts in the borough, with 22 along a one-mile stretch. Finchley, Hendon, Cricklewood and Tally Ho Corner all have at least eight phone masts in the vicinity of shopping areas.

And while the ward of Hampstead Garden Suburb has only nine masts, the less affluent area of Burnt Oak has the most in the borough with 22.

Planning permission is not required to erect a mobile phone mast, although the council can reject an application most often on appeal.

The councillor responsible for planning in Barnet, Melvin Cohen, has agreed to look into the planning inspector's case, and said that if perceived health risks can be taken into account, it would strengthen the council's position for rejecting antennae.

"My party is looking at ways of tightening up the legislation," he said. "If inspectors are actually making a key change, it is something we would wish to look at.

"Our hands are tied on the issue. I think the Government has accepted huge sums of money for the 3G third-generation mobile phone technology and they are making things easy for the phone mast companies to erect masts."

Councillor Monroe Palmer, leader of the Lib Dems, spearheaded the fight against mobile phone masts when his party was in power. "Mobile phone companies would find it more difficult to put a mobile phone mast in Hampstead Garden Suburb because people protect their environment more," he said. "It's more likely in areas where there is less organisation."

A series of Government reports have not been able to find any evidence that phone masts affect the health of those who live, study, or work around them.

1:17pm Thursday 17th February 2005

© Copyright 2001-2004 Newsquest Media Group - A Gannett Company


Informant: Sandi

From Mast Network



Phone mast health shock

George Baird, from the Planning Inspectorate, said concern about health risks was one reason for rejecting an appeal by mobile giant Orange.

FRESH doubts about the safety of mobile phone masts near schools have been triggered by a government inspector.

George Baird, from the Planning Inspectorate, said concern about health risks was one reason for rejecting an appeal by mobile giant Orange.

It wanted to put a 15-metre mast 100 metres from Clarendon Fields Community Primary School in Dukinfield, Tameside. It is thought to be the first time health concerns have been cited by a government inspector blocking a phone mast.

In his report, Mr Baird wrote: "The reason for refusal refers to concern about the effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields from the proposed equipment, given that the site adjoins the Clarendon Fields Community Primary School, public open space and houses in Clarendon Street and Angel Close.

"I acknowledge that such fears are relevant to my decision."

Geoff Williams from Mast Sanity, which campaigns against phone masts in sensitive areas, said: "I believe that it is the first time that an inspector has used safety as a reason. The government advice remains confusing.

"In their guidelines they say in one paragraph health can be considered then, in the next, health doesn't need to be considered. "I believe the inspector's words in this case will give a lot of hope to a lot of people."

Mr Baird's other reasons for refusal were the "harsh and hostile appearance" of the mast and its "conflict with development plan policy".

Decision

Members of the Speakers Panel, which considers planning applications for Tameside Council, read Mr Baird's report and voted unanimously to reject an application to erect a scaled-down version of the mast in the grounds of Dukinfield Cricket Club, adjoining the school.

The panel voted to uphold the inspector's decision on the "perceived health risks".Local councillors, residents and school head Martin Kelly objected to the application.

A report by British scientists from the Advisory Group on Non-Ionising Radiation said exposure levels from mobile base stations were extremely low and "unlikely" to pose a health risk.
But Tameside councillor John Taylor said: "When an expert finally says `yes they are definitely safe', then I will believe they are.

"I might not know all the technical data, but the inspector's explanation for refusal is very clear."

A spokesman for Orange said: "Planning guidance means the decision maker is entitled to weigh public concerns as part of the process. "There is no evidence linking mobile technology with ill health."

In November last year, the Appeal Court threw out a test case over a decision to allow the siting of a mobile phone mast near three schools.

The decision came months after three giant mobile firms won a High Court battle for the right to put up a 25-metre mast in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, despite health concerns and opposition from deputy prime minister John Prescott.

© 2001 - 2005 Softpedia. All rights reserved.

http://mobile.softpedia.com/news/Phone-mast-health-shock.shtml
read also:
http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/news/education/s/145/145770_phone_mast_health_shock.html

http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/77/walmart.html

Find out how consumers pay the price at Wal-Mart
http://www.aflcio.org/corporateamerica/walmart/index.cfm

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/050217/323/fco7s.html


Environmental Investigation Agency press release:

World's Biggest Timber Smuggling Racket Exposed Between Indonesia and China: Call for US and Canada to Ban Illegal Timber Imports

http://www.ems.org/nws/2005/02/18/worlds_biggest_t


Informant: Andy Robinson

Rainforest Action network

February 15th, 2005

Wild Oats, an environmentally-minded grocery store with about 100 store locations in North America, uses Weyerhaeuser paper bags in some of its stores. Wild Oats should not be affiliated with a company that is notorious for logging national and old growth forests, destroying the habitat of endangered species, such as the northern spotted owl and woodland caribou, and converting native forests into tree plantations. Please send a message to the CEO of Wild Oats today - Mr. Perry Odak, asking him to cancel the company's business with Weyerhaeuser.

Weyerhaeuser will not change its destructive business practices until it begins to lose customers. We need to tell Weyerhaeuser's biggest customers that we don't want them to support Weyerhaeuser.

Register your disappointment with Wild Oats purchasing by making a 60-second call now to the CEO of Wild Oats, Mr. Perry Odak. Ask the CEO to "stop putting organic, fair trade and other socially responsible groceries into disposable paper bags made by Weyerhaeuser - a company that is known for clear cutting North America's last ancient forests. "

http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=11863


Informant: Deane T. Rimerman

*Call your Congress member in Washington, DC and demand they say NO WAY to another $82 billion for war and destruction.

*Call your Congress member’s district office and schedule a meeting during the Congressional recess next week to talk about the endless stream of money that’s being poured into Iraq.

Why is there ALWAYS money when it comes to war and NEVER enough when it comes to people’s basic human needs? This Monday George W. Bush asked for another $82 billion (!!!) for war and destruction in the form of an emergency supplemental funding request to Congress. $61 billion of the total is for the Iraq war, which would bring total spending on the war to almost $210 billion! This money is in addition to the $2.5 trillion budget request Bush made to Congress last week, which proposed to slash critical social programs and increase military spending.

If this isn’t enough to raise your blood pressure to CODEPINK alert level, consider these tidbits:

* While Bush is claiming that this money is needed to “support the troops”, his budget would slash veterans’ access to healthcare by increasing fees for prescription drugs and access to VA facilities, even as thousands of injured soldiers streaming back from Iraq and Afghanistan.

*The amount of money that’s being spent on endless war could easily pay for the community programs – from public libraries to hospitals to train service – that are about to be eliminated because of state and local budget shortfalls. For concrete examples of what these war funds could pay for in your state or city, see http://www.nationalpriorities.org .

*There seems to be no accountability whatsoever for the $153 billion already appropriated for the Iraq war. That money didn’t go toward purchasing sufficient body armor and equipment for the U.S. troops, but it did go to line the pockets of Halliburton and its subsidiary KBR. The U.S. also can’t account for how it spent Iraq’s money – the Coalition Provisional Authority (the occupation authority in Iraq) “lost” $9 billion during its tenure.

HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO:

* Call the congressional switchboard right now, and ask to be connected with your representative, 202-224-3121 (9-5 EST). Tell her/him to 1) Oppose new funds: Congress should halt new funds for U.S. military operations in Iraq. Any new funds should be allocated solely for troop withdrawal and interim troop protection. 2) Support amendments to the appropriations bill that call for an end to the occupation and support Iraqi sovereignty. 3) Provide real support for our troops by ending the “stop loss” policy that’s the equivalent of a back-door draft and insisting on adequate health care and other benefits for Iraq war veterans and their families.

* Call the district office of your member of congress and schedule an in-district meeting. We want to show Congress members the opposition to war that exists in their home districts. Please call your Representative today and ask for a meeting during recess, between Feb. 21 and 25. We encourage you to collaborate with other peace groups in your community. Check to see if a meeting has already been scheduled in your district by going to
http://meetup.radicaldesigns.org/calendar_display.php?caltype=33

If no meeting is listed, please call your district office, make an appointment, and invite other peace groups in your area to attend the meeting with you. Be sure to post the information about your meeting on the United for Peace and Justice website calendar at
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/events (select the "$80 billion/Congressional visits" calendar category). You can find the district office information for your Representative here: http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.shtml .

Whether you get a meeting or not, take a list of questions (on pink paper, of course) to your Congress member’s office next week, during the Congressional recess, and demand some answers. See http://www.codepinkalert.org/Action_Alerts.shtml#q for some key questions.

This $82 billion is only going to lead to an ongoing U.S. military presence in Iraq, which is not the solution to Iraq’s security problems; it is part of the problem. Our soldiers are dying, Iraqis are dying, and things are much, much worse this year for regular Iraqis than they were at this time last year – elections or no elections. We can’t keep pouring money into this tragic mess. It’s time for us to stop the bungling and the interference and let the Iraqis find the solutions to the problems we’ve created.

In peace,

Andrea, Carol, Claire, Dana, Gael, Jodie, Medea, Tiffany
February 17, 2005 http://www.codepinkalert.org

Der Salzburger Umweltmediziner Dr. Gerd Oberfeld liefert brisante Daten zum heiß diskutierten Thema „Welche Gesundheitsgefahren birgt die mobile Kommunikation?“

http://www.aerztemagazin.at/dynasite.cfm?dssid=4169&dsmid=61902&dspaid=463830


Nachricht von Michael Meyer

--------

Besonders möchten wir heute auf den Bericht im österreichischen Ärzteblatt hinweisen. Wie sich die konsistenten Hinweise doch gleichen:

Österreich, Spanien, Frankreich, Israel, Polen, Deutschland, Italien u.a., überall gleiche oder ähnliche epidemiologische Erhebungen, Studien und Hinweise und Feststellungen.

Kommunalpolitiker, Landespolitiker, Bundespolitiker - wacht endlich auf, beendet den Freilandversuch am Menschen!

Es besteht ein längst überfälliger Handlungsbedarf !

Nehmt endlich die Fakten der seriösen Warnungen neutraler Wissenschaftler und Ärzte zur Kenntnis und folgt der amtseidlich geleisteten Fürsorgeverpflichtung gegenüber der Bevölkerung!

Wie oft muß es noch erwähnt werden, dass die von der ICNIRP willkürlich festgelegten Grenzwerte ohne Zeitfaktor Unsinn und falsch sind - sie sind Augenwischerei.

Omega siehe dazu "KLÄRUNG DER ROLLE DER ICNIRP" unter:
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/473327/

Die in der 26. BImSchV festgesetzten Grenzwerte orientieren sich an nachweisbaren Gesundheitsgefahren einer durch Hochfrequenz ausgelösten Erwärmung des Gewebes. Sie enthalten keine Vorsorge- oder gar Schutzanforderungen zur Berücksichtigung nichtthermischer Wirkungen.

Physiker gehen nur von der Technik aus, beachten aber nicht die biologischen Abläufe des Menschen.

Omega siehe dazu auch "Die Technik im Clinch mit der Gesundheit" unter: http://omega.twoday.net/stories/530156/

Allein die Ausführungen der Ärzte und die Leidensberichte der Betroffenen sollten vernünftige, verantwortungbewußte Entscheidungsträger endlich zu Präventionsmaßnahmen veranlassen.

M.f.G.
Alfred Tittmann
c/o HESSISCHER LANDESVERBAND MOBILFUNKSENDERFREIE WOHNGEBIETE e.V.



Wissenschaft und Mobilfunk
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/293807/

Handy
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/321708/

Robert Fisk on the Beirut Bombing, U.S.-Syrian Relations and the Iraqi Elections:

"Bush is lining up Syria in his sites."

Audio and Transcript. Real audio
http://207.44.245.159/article8095.htm

The Bush administration is making the same mistakes with Iran that it made with Iraq. It makes allegations unsupported by facts, refuses to negotiate and threatens sanctions or military action, neither of which is feasible. In short, it has no rational Iran policy.

http://207.44.245.159/article8099.htm

Iran says a brief worldwide scare over a blast near its only nuclear reactor was engineered by Washington as part of "psychological warfare" against Tehran and its nuclear programme.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/050217/325/fcp6p.html


From Information Clearing House

Blame it on Syria. Blame it on al-Qaeda. Better yet, blame it both on Syria and al-Qaeda. Without a shred of evidence the Bush administration immediately blamed Syria for the bombing that killed "Mr Beirut", former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri.

http://207.44.245.159/article8092.htm

“[Condoleezza Rice] forgot, above all, to tell us whether the leaders of a country who have lied to their own people, to their friends, and to their allies to justify their military intervention by the presence in Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, whether, in consequence, those leaders are the best placed to provide an example to civilizations judged inferior.”

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/021605H.shtml


From Information Clearing House

"Islamic extremists are exploiting the Iraqi conflict to recruit new anti-U.S. jihadists," CIA Director Porter J. Goss told the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

http://207.44.245.159/article8094.htm

The division of peoples based on super-tribes has always led to battles, fights and wars.

By Manuel Valenzuela

We are all in this together, forged out of one common African ancestor. We are human, one and all, born without flags, without borders and without nations, spawned naked to politics and in harmony with nature. The nation is man-made, as is patriotism and nationalism, creations of our animal selves. Our loyalty should be to the Earth and one another, not to the intangible fantasies of division or the imaginary lines of control.

http://207.44.245.159/article8091.htm

Our ship, the MV Esperanza, has just set sail from Falmouth to investigate dolphin deaths in the English Channel.

Every year hundreds of dolphins are killed by pair trawlers and other destructive fishing - their corpses are washing up on beaches in south west England right now.

We're taking action to stop these needless deaths. Follow our progress, read daily reports from the crew and meet the team by visiting our ship's weblog site: http://weblog.greenpeace.org/dolphintour

Bush-Besuch in Deutschland: Bundeskanzler soll sich bei Bush für die Gefangenen auf Guantánamo einsetzen (17.02.05)

Amnesty International (ai) hat den Bundeskanzler aufgefordert, sich bei Bush für eine menschenrechtsgemäße Behandlung der Inhaftierten in Guantánamo einzusetzen: Unabhängige Gerichte müssten unverzüglich über deren Status entscheiden. Die Gefangenen müssten angeklagt oder sofort freigelassen werden. Unschuldig Inhaftierte müssten angemessen entschädigt werden. An alle Staats- und Regierungschefs der EU hat ai appelliert, das bisherige Schweigen zu Guantánamo und den Foltervorwürfen zu brechen. U. a. sollen sie Bush bei seinem Besuch in Brüssel an das absolute Folterverbot erinnern.

Die ganze Nachricht im Internet:

http://www.ngo-online.de/ganze_nachricht.php4?Nr=10476

DNA-Spuren anderer Personen: Datenschützer Schaar besorgt wegen Überwachung und DNA-Analysen (17.02.05)

Der Bundesbeauftragte für den Datenschutz, Peter Schaar, ist alarmiert wegen der zunehmenden Telefonüberwachung in Deutschland. "Es müssen Sicherungen eingebaut werden", sagte Schaar der in Halle erscheinenden "Mitteldeutschen Zeitung". Er forderte, Richter sollten nicht nur am Beginn einer Überwachung beteiligt sein, sondern auch über deren Verlauf sowie den Erfolg der Maßnahme informiert werden. Schaar kritisierte außerdem die in einigen Bundesländern praktizierte oder erwogene automatische Erfassung von Auto-Kennzeichen.

Die ganze Nachricht im Internet:

http://www.ngo-online.de/ganze_nachricht.php4?Nr=10462

WWF-Studie: Die Arktis verkommt zur chemischen Müllhalde der Erde (17.02.05)

Die Arktis und die dort heimischen Tierarten sind in wachsendem Maße mit Chemikalien belastet, die niemals in dieser Region produziert oder benutzt worden sind, warnt der WWF in einer heute veröffentlichten Studie. Der Report stellt ferner fest, dass die Konzentration der chemischen Substanzen in der Arktis oft höher ist als in Vergleichsproben aus Ländern, in denen diese Chemikalien produziert werden.

Die ganze Nachricht im Internet:

http://www.ngo-online.de/ganze_nachricht.php4?Nr=10468

I recall that in 2001 - a freak snow storm in Mexico killed millions of Monarchs (butterflies, that is). Now only 75% of the Monarch Butterfly population is showing up in Mexico?? There is alot of fingerpointing in this article - but the fact is there appears to be a serious problem here regardless of who's to blame.

Any other documentation on this subject is appreciated.

Peace - Anna


Begin forwarded message:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1894&ncid=1894&e=3&u=/ap/20050217/ap_on_sc/mexico_monarch_butterflies

Filed by Angry Girl

February 16th, 2005:

According to the subscription-only RollCall, but kindly brought to our attention by MyDD.com:

The Federal Election Commission next month will begin looking at tightening restrictions on political activities in cyberspace, a controversial move that makes some FEC officials uneasy....

Specifically, the FEC is planning to examine the question of how Internet activities, when coordinated with candidates’ campaigns, fit into the definition of “public communications.”

Link

All this because of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, also known as the McCain-Feingold Bill, and BCRA for short.

It turns out that U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly is the woman responsible for this latest development. Going against the FEC, she ruled that Internet communications would not be exempt from the scope of the term of “public communications” that may be coordinated with a candidate.

And the FEC does not seem happy. Michael Toner, the Republican vice-chairman of the FEC, and David Mason, another Republican, both openly expressed worries about the ruling’s effect on political freedom.

Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly did at least state, however:

The Court, it should be noted, appeared critical of a “blanket” exemption for internet communications, and did not rule out some more limited exemption for this class of communication.
http://www.moresoftmoneyhardlaw.com/articles/20040920.cfm

Fred Wertheimer, president of Democracy 21, on the other hand, feels that the ruling was fair. After all, as he said,
http://www.democracy21.org/

“there’s absolutely no rationale that says, ‘I can’t spend a million in coordination with the candidate on TV advertising, but it’s OK to make the same expenditures on Internet advertising.’”

Hard to argue.

But why do I smell a rat here? It sounds as contrived as having to create tax laws to put Al Capone in jail.

Let’s take a closer look at Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly.

It turns out she’s the one who gave Microsoft that admittedly sweetheart settlement back in 2002.
http://www.windowsitpro.com/mobile/pda/Article.cfm?ArticleID=45390&News=1

But, wait, there’s more: Her bio says that in 2002
http://www.dcd.uscourts.gov/kotelly-bio.html

Chief Justice Rehnquist appointed Judge Kotelly to serve as Presiding Judge of the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court , which is a 7-year appointment.

She must be quite the gal! What the hell is the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court?

According to the Wikipedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_Intelligence_Surveillance_Court

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court is a secret U.S. court composed of 11 federal judges, established by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (1978), and expanded by the USA PATRIOT Act in 2001. Its jurisdiction is to oversee requests for surveillance warrants by federal police agencies (primarily the F.B.I.) against suspected foreign intelligence agents inside the U.S.

Apparently, as stated by the ACLU, this court has no government oversight... http://www.aclu.org/NationalSecurity/NationalSecurity.cfm?ID=12219&c=110

Hasn’t Bush been clamoring to renew and extend the Patriot Act just recently?

If you’d heard that the rules for Internet blogging and campaigning were under attack by the Patriot Act, that would make your government sound repressive and totalitarian.

However, if you hear that the Internet rules for political blogging and campaigning are getting changed to comply with the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act and even the Republicans are against it, well, that sounds much better.

While Kollar-Kotelly does have a reputation for fairness, she might also be finding herself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Time will tell.

Farfetched? Maybe. But it’s among the things that make you say hmmm….

http://watchingthewatchers.org/printthis.php?p=339

posted Wednesday, 16 February 2005


Informant: Shanti Renfrew

Pass It On: Gannongate
by MediaMatters for America

See the softball questions lobbed by faux-journalist "Jeff Gannon" at White House press conferences.

http://www.tompaine.com/index.php#passiton


Gannongate

"Is this another piece of evidence showing the direct terror ties between Iraq and Al Qaeda?"

—one of "Jeff Gannon's" softball questions to White House press secretary Scott McClellan.

To read more, click here:
http://mediamatters.org/items/200502020014

by Frank Rich, The New York Times

On Gannongate, journalists-for-hire and the Bush administration's brilliant propaganda effort.

http://tompaine.com/opinion/#003800

An zahlreiche sendemastenkritische Initiativen

Volksbegehren "Für Gesundheitsvorsorge beim Mobilfunk" - Bündnistreffen am 22.2.2005 in Kempten

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

die Mobilfunkinitiativen im Allgäu veranstalten am Dienstag, 22. Februar 2005 um 20.00 Uhr im Soldatenheim Kempten, Prälat-Götz-Str. 2 ein Informationstreffen für potentielle Unterstützer des Volksbegehrens "Für Gesundheitsvorsorge beim Mobilfunk". Falls auch außerhalb Schwabens Interesse an dieser Veranstaltung besteht und Sie beim ersten Koordinationstreffen am 27.1. in München keine Zeit hatten, sind Sie herzlich eingeladen. Ein weiterer Informationsabend findet demnächst noch in Nürnberg statt.

Das Treffen in Kempten wendet sich in erster Linie an die Mobilfunkinitiativen und engagierte Einzelpersonen als Multiplikatoren. Es geht also nicht um einen Fachvortrag über Mobilfunkgefahren, sondern um die weitere Planung und rechtliche Wirkung des Volksbegehrens. So stellen wir uns den Ablauf vor:

- Der Kemptener Stadtrat Michael Hofer führt in die Thematik ein
- Der Volksbegehren-Beauftragte Peter-Michael Schmalz erläutert die rechtlichen Auswirkungen des Volksbegehren-Gesetzentwurfs.
- Anschließend stelle ich Ihnen die organisatorischen Details der Volksbegehren-Planung vor und erläutere was vor Ort zur Unterstützung wichtig wäre.

Wir würden uns freuen, Sie am kommenden Dienstag begrüßen zu dürfen. Weitere Infos über das Begehren finden Sie unter http://www.gesundheitsvorsorge-mobilfunk.de . Bitte leiten Sie diese Nachricht an Ihnen bekannte Initiativen weiter! Für den Fall, dass Sie sich unserem Bündnis anschließen möchten und uns dies bislang noch nicht mitgeteilt haben, finden Sie im Anhang ein Antwortformular. Eine Wegbeschreibung zum Veranstaltungslokal in Kempten (Skizze) schicken wir Ihnen auf Wunsch per Fax. Bitte telefonisch anfordern 0851/931171.

Der weitere Zeitplan des Volksbegehrens: Anfang April werden die bereits gesammelten 32.000 Zulassungsunterschriften im Bayerischen Innenministerium eingereicht. Die 14-tägige Eintragungszeit, während der sich 10% der Wahlberechtigten in den Rathäusern eintragen sollen, findet dann voraussichtlich zwischen Mitte Juni und Ende Juli statt. Den genauen Termin legt das Ministerium fest.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Urban Mangold
Organisator des Volksbegehrens

http://www.gesundheitsvorsorge-mobilfunk.de/

Studie: Schädigt Handystrahlung Spermien?

vom 2005-02-17 08:50:24

Handys vermindern möglicherweise die Qualität der Spermien: Nach den Forschungen eines australischen Wissenschaftlers schädigen Funkwellen mit den typischen Mobilfunkfrequenzen das Erbgut der männlichen Keimzellen von Mäusen. Über die Studie von John Aitken von der Universität von Newcastle im australischen New South Wales berichtet das Wissenschaftsmagazin "New Scientist".

Mäuse wurden bestrahlt

Ob häufiger Handygebrauch das Erbgut ähnlich beeinflusst wie beispielsweise Röntgenstrahlung, wird immer wieder diskutiert. In der neuen Studie setzten Aitken und seine Kollegen 22 Mäuse eine Woche lang zwölf Stunden täglich Strahlung einer Frequenz von 900 Megahertz aus. Die Dosis lag bei etwa 90 Milliwatt pro Kilogramm Körpergewicht und damit in einer ähnlichen Größenordnung wie die, der die meisten Handynutzer täglich ausgesetzt sind. Eine anschließende Untersuchung der Spermien-DNA zeigte, dass das Erbgut der bestrahlten Mäuse deutlich mehr Schäden aufwies als das von unbehandelten Kontrolltieren.

Quelle: (ddp) Autor: JF

http://www.inside-handy.de/news/2637.html (Auszug)


Nachricht von der BI Bad Dürkheim



Wirkungen von Mobilfunk und anderer EMF auf das Fortpflanzungssystem
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/459216/

Sperm damage claims over phone radiation
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/526812/

* 19 February 2005

* From New Scientist Print Edition. Subscribe and get 4 free issues.

* Rachel Nowak Melbourne

COULD mobile phones damage the health of children before they have even been conceived?

Yes, says John Aitken of the University of Newcastle in New South Wales. He claims to have preliminary evidence that radio waves of the frequency used by mobile phones can damage sperm DNA in mice. "It won't affect you, but it could affect your children," he says.

Aitken's team exposed 22 mice to 900-megahertz radiation at an estimated rate of 90 milliwatts per kilogram of bodyweight - less than most people receive from mobile phones - for 12 hours a day for one week. A sensitive technique called quantitative PCR found more DNA damage than in sperm from controls, the team will report in the International Journal of Andrology.

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=mg18524874.600 (excerpt)

http://omega.twoday.net/stories/227418/

Vermehrtes Auftreten von Krebs in der Nähe von Mobilfunkstationen
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/567961/

Krebscluster in der Nähe von Funkantennen
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/227418/

Krebscluster in der Nähe von Mobilfunkantennen
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/162552/

http://www.politikforum.de/forum/archive/10/2005/01/2/87523

Schäden an Bäumen durch Mikrowellen
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/522990/

Baumsterben: Versauerung der Waldböden gefährdet Trinkwasser
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/426647/

Waldsterben und Elektrosmog
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/365522/

Radar, Natel und Richtfunk
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/533077/

http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-02-15-voa36.cfm


Informant: Andy Robinson

http://allafrica.com/stories/200502150807.html


Informant: Andy Robinson

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=4&ObjectID=10010150


Informant: Andy Robinson

SACRAMENTO (February 15, 2005) – President Bush's request for another $82 billion in war funds should be rejected by Congress until he lays out a plan to end the war, and restore budget cuts for the needy in the U.S., according to Green Party congressional candidate Pat Driscoll.

The bulk of the spending package announced by Bush on Valentine's Day would be used to fund the day-to-day cost of the war in Iraq while ignoring the needs of Californians and all Americans here at home, Driscoll said.

"We are told the country cannot afford health care for all, and that the social security system is underfunded, yet the President and Congress can find enough money to pay for the quagmire in Iraq," said Driscoll. "There is funding for social programs, if we would just stop the killing in Iraq."

Driscoll is a candidate in a March 8 special election in Sacramento to fill a vacancy in the 5th Congressional District after 14-term incumbent Robert Matsui (D) died Jan. 1.

The administration quietly released a list of the domestic programs it intended to cut this week, including $18 million for the National Youth Sports Program, which has provided athletics,tutoring, drug and alcohol abuse prevention and comprehensive medical exams for low-income children for more than three decades. The administration would also eliminate a program to repair "severely distressed" public housing and reduce grants for Section 8 vouchers, and kill seven health programs for emergency medical services for children, traumatic brain injury and newborn hearing screening.

"These programs and many others targeted by President Bush and a willing Congress are being sacrificed to continue the killing on both sides in Iraq. It is time for an immediate cease fire in Iraq, and the peaceful withdrawal of U.S. troops. We could then begin the rebuilding of social programs not only here in the U.S., but in Iraq,"added Driscoll.


Informant: Garden Beekeeper

http://news.com.com/National+ID+cards+on+the+way/2100-1028_3-5573414.html


Informant: Patriot

http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1414661,00.html


Informant: Charles Bremer

Mit ungültigen und veralteten Fragebögen erweitert die Arbeitsagentur Bochum den Arbeitszwang auf alle Angehörigen der so genannten Bedarfsgemeinschaft. Verliert die HaupternährerIn einer Familie den Arbeitsplatz, ist das an sich schon eine Katastrophe. Mit rechtswidrigen Verträgen will die Arbeitsagentur die ganze Familie (Lebenspartner und erwerbsfähige Kinder) in rechtlose Ein-Euro-Jobs zwingen. Weigert sich ein Familienmitglied, hat die ganze Familie mit Sanktionen zu rechnen.

Am Donnerstag, den 17.2.05, werden die Organisationen ab 9:30 Uhr mit einem Infostand direkt vor der Arbeitsagentur, Universitätsstr. 66, 44789 Bochum gegen diese Praxis demonstrieren.

Siehe dazu die Pressemitteilung des Aktionsbündnisses (PDF),
http://www.kolabor.de/sozialforum/pdf/2005/pressemitteilung.pdf

das Schreiben an die Geschäftsleitung der Arbeitsagentur Bochum (PDF)
http://www.kolabor.de/sozialforum/pdf/2005/schreiben_wolterhoff.pdf

und den Fragebogen der Arbeitsagentur (PDF)
http://www.kolabor.de/sozialforum/pdf/2005/schnueffel-praxis.pdf


Aus: LabourNet Nachrichtensammlung, Band 22, Eintrag 12

Keine krankheitsbedingte Kündigung ohne betriebliches Eingliederungsmanagement

Wenig Beachtung hat die Neuregelung in § 84 Abs. 2 SGB IX gefunden, obwohl damit eine der wichtigsten Änderungen der letzten Jahre bezüglich krankheitsbedingter Kündigungen vorgenommen wurde: diese Vorschrift gilt für alle AN, also auch die nicht schwer behinderten und verbietet eine Kündigung, wenn der Arbeitgeber nicht zuvor Präventionsmaßnahmen durchgeführt hat. Liegen die Voraussetzungen ansonsten vor, verstößt eine krankheitsbedingte Kündigung trotzdem gegen den Grundsatz der Verhältnismäßigkeit, wenn der AG nicht zuvor - zusammen mit dem AN und BR/PR - geklärt hat, ob durch Präventionsregelungen die Kündigung hätte vermieden werden können.

Mehr dazu im Mandanteninfo des Anwaltsbüro Bell & Windirsch vom
Februar 2005 (pdf)
http://www.labournet.de/diskussion/arbeitsalltag/gh/kbkschwer.pdf


Arbeit macht Krank - arbeitsbedingte Erkrankungen

Stress und psychische Belastungen

Gesundheitsbelastungen und Prävention am Arbeitsplatz - WSI-Betriebsrätebefragung 2004. Artikel von Elke Ahlers und Martin Brussig in WSI-Mitteilungen Ausgabe 11/2004 (pdf)
http://www.boeckler.de/pdf/wsimit_2004_11_Ahlers_Brussig.pdf

Aus der hier geschilderten Studie des WSI geht hervor, dass in 95 % der Großbetriebe und in 84% der Betriebe mit max. 50 Beschäftigten die psychische Belastung in den letzten 5 Jahren zugenommen hat….


"Krank durch Arbeit. Arbeitsbedingungen - Gesundheitsrisiken - Gegenwehr"

Schwarzbuch der IG Metall
http://www.igmetall.de/themen/gutearbeit/schwarzbuch.pdf


Arbeitszeit und Gesundheit

Der Arbeitszeit-TÜV: Wie gesundheitsverträglich sind unsere Arbeitszeiten?

Arbeitsmappe des Projektes "Gute Arbeit" der IG Metall (pdf)
http://www.igmetall.de/themen/gutearbeit/arbeitsmappe_gute_arbeit.pdf


Neuer IG Metall-Tipp zum Thema "Arbeitsdruck und lange Arbeitszeiten"

Die IG Metall bietet in der Online-Rubrik "Gesünder @rbeiten" einen neuen Tipp für den Arbeitsplatz an. Im Blickpunkt des 4-seitigen PDF-Downloads "Dauer-Sprinter gibt es nicht" stehen Arbeitsdruck und lange Arbeitszeiten und die Auswirkungen auf die Gesundheit der Beschäftigten. Tipps für Vertrauensleute und Betriebsräte runden das Informationsangebot ab.

http://www.igmetall.de/gesundheit/gesundheits_tipps/gesundheitstipp_24.pdf


Aus: LabourNet Nachrichtensammlung, Band 22, Eintrag 12

NATO-Gipfel in Nizza, Condoleeza Rice in Paris und "Sicherheitskonferenz" in München: Inner-imperialistische Konflikte und Interventionen "out of area"

Bericht von Bernhard Schmid, aktuell Nizza. Eine gekürzte Fassung erscheint heute auch in der Jungle World

http://www.labournet.de/krieg/schmidnizza.html


Von München nach Mainz

Eine Nachbetrachtung zur Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz und eine Vorschau auf den Bush-Besuch in Mainz von Peter Strutynski vom 16. Februar 2005

http://www.uni-kassel.de/fb5/frieden/themen/Sicherheitskonferenz/2005-strutynski.html


Ohne Krieg kein Profit. Bewertung der Beiträge zur 41. Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz

IMI-Analyse 2005/003 von Jürgen Wagner vom 14.2.2005

http://www.imi-online.de/2005.php3?id=1113


Aus: LabourNet Nachrichtensammlung, Band 22, Eintrag 12

I am sure you are all aware of how scientists (real scientists, anyway) are being ignored or worse, discredited, by the present regime in Washington. The Federation of American Scientists has a project on government secrecy which will hopefully cause additional light to be thrown on government actions. Their recent newsletter mentions the "Free Flow of Information Act" which seeks to allow reporters to protect their sources (as we all thought they could, right?).

They have the introduction of the "Free Flow of Information Act" on their site at: http://www.fas.org/sgp/congress/2005/s340.html


© Virginia Metze

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 15, 2005
10:38 AM

WASHINGTON -- February 15 -- Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH) issued the following statement today on the Administration's request for an additional $82 billion mostly for the war in Iraq:

"Congress should reject the Administration's latest request. From day one, this Administration has misled the public and the Congress about this war." ... Read the rest of the press release at:

http://www.commondreams.org/news2005/0215-04.htm


© Virginia Metze

Congress joins some 'liberal' groups in threatening Web sites and blogs that are critical of US policy

by Chris Bowers

With their attempts to de-fund lawyers, unions, and with their attempts to disenfranchise minorities, when Republicans are in power they consistently work to consolidate their power literally by shutting their opponents out of the process. Unfortunately, sometimes liberal groups help them, such as in the latest example:
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2005/02/14/restrictions_coming_on_internet_politics.html

The Federal Election Commission "next month will begin looking at tightening restrictions on political activities in cyberspace, a controversial move that makes some FEC officials uneasy," Roll Call reports. http://www.rollcall.com/issues/50_73/news/8142-1.html

"Specifically, the FEC is planning to examine the question of how Internet activities, when coordinated with candidates' campaigns, fit into the definition of 'public communications.'"

Restrictions coming? We will see about that. I'd make some sort of defiant statement, but I've already written enough to warrant a "visit" for one day.

... Read the rest of the article at http://mparent7777.blog-city.com/read/1077394.htm or at http://tinyurl.com/5q32p if the long one doesn't work.

© Virginia Metze

One of the worst freedom of speech actions is more than a week old but is just catching fire. Anything alleged to be untrue could be claimed to be an "urban legend" by those abusing the law. It was in last weekend's reading list, but I am reposting it here:

New Legislation Would Ban Urban Legends

by Brian Briggs

BBspot

Tuesday, February 8 12:00 AM ET

Washington D.C. – A new law proposed by a bipartisan group of Representatives would outlaw the spread of "urban legends." Representative Simon Heedsmore of West Virginia said, "We cannot allow these frauds to be perpetrated on the American public. If the right urban legend were to be created it could cause a panic which could have dangerous consequences to national security." ... Read more about it at http://www.bbspot.com/News/2005/02/ban_urban_legends.html

Disclaimer: If this news item is an "urban legend," it was not yet registered at my favorite UL site...

© Virginia Metze

Die Gemeinden tun alles, um Sozialhilfe-Bedürftige abzuwimmeln - der Gang zum Amt wird zum entwürdigenden Spießrutenlauf.

http://www.beobachter.ch/artikel.asp?aid=8397

Illinois' wounded veterans will have to wait several months before learning why they've received among the lowest disability pay in the country for the past seven decades. "We don't know how long it's going to take, and that really is the truth," said Veterans Affairs Deputy Inspector General Jon Wooditch. "Before the full report is on the street, it would probably be months." Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) called the delay "troubling and disappointing."

http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/?Page=Article&ID=2847

The Veterans Affairs Department needs at least $4 billion more than President Bush has allotted or else veterans' health care and disability claims will suffer, Sen. Barack Obama warned Monday.

http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/?Page=Article&ID=2846

Congressional investigators are questioning whether the Veterans Affairs Department can adequately help troops who may return from Iraq and Afghanistan with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/?Page=Article&ID=2845

The Texas women are part of a growing number of military family members who find themselves dealing with what psychologists are beginning to recognize as Secondary Traumatic Stress Disorder. Just like PTSD, Secondary TSD can clearly be debilitating. And while the military and the Department of Veterans Affairs are having major problems dealing with the unusual caseload of PTSD among those who’ve served in Iraq, there’s no system at all set up to deal with their families’ emotional disabilities.

http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/?Page=Article&ID=2844

A judge in Washington has warned Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld he could face contempt for ignoring a ruling on Pentagon anthrax vaccinations.

http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/?Page=Article&ID=2843

Five veterans groups, including the American Legion, denounced a proposal in Mr. Bush's budget that would double the co-payment charged to many veterans for prescription drugs and require some to pay a new fee of $250 a year for the privilege of using government health care.

http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/?Page=Article&ID=2841

A veteran was forced to call 911 for emergency assistance when his pleas for help in a Department of Veterans Affairs medical center were ignored.

http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/?Page=Article&ID=2839

In a very anti-veteran policy that ignores the Geneva Conventions, the LA Times reports that, "Gulf War pilots tortured by Iraqis fight the Bush administration in trying to collect compensation."

http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/?Page=Article&ID=2838

Another 'Mission Accomplished'

Tom Engelhardt and Dilip Hiro on the new fault lines in Iraq, and America: http://www.lewrockwell.com/engelhardt/engelhardt46.html

Mike Rogers offers one on behalf of the people, not the government:
http://www.lewrockwell.com/rogers/rogers126.html

Torturing for Freedom

Anthony Gregory on the latest sell-out:
http://www.lewrockwell.com/gregory/gregory62.html

http://www.ipsnews.net/africa/interna.asp?idnews=27451


Informant: NHNE

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4269847.stm


Informant: sash

Indianapolis Star

02/16/05

Iran and Syria, who both are facing pressure from the United States, said Wednesday they will form a 'united front' to confront possible threats against them, state-run television reported. 'In view of the special conditions faced by Syria, Iran will transfer its experience, especially concerning sanctions, to Syria,' Mohammad Reza Aref, Iran's first vice president, was quoted as saying after meeting Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Naji Otari. 'At this sensitive point, the two countries require a united front due to numerous challenges...

http://tinyurl.com/52qsx


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

http://omega.twoday.net/stories/473327/


ICNIRP

Dr. Claus Scheingraber
Räterstrasse 22 A
85551 Kirchheim-Heimstetten
Tel. 089-9038020

24. März 2005

Sehr geehrte Frau Ziegelberger,

ich wurde von Frau Buchmann, der Initiatoren der Mobilfunk BI Kirchheim, gebeten auf ihre Mailnachricht vom 16.März eine Erwiderung zu verfassen. Nach Kenntnisnahme des Inhalts der Mailnachricht komme ich diesem Wunsch gerne nach.

Die ICNIRP ist eine selbsternannte Organisation, die im Münchner Vereinsregister unter der Nummer 14570 als gemeinnütziger Verein eingetragen ist. Vor 2001 hatte die ICNIRP wenigstens den Mut sich als Verein zu bekennen, heute findet man auf der Homepage keinen Hinweis darüber. Ein wenig mehr Seriosität und weniger Großspurigkeit in der Darstellung in der Öffentlichkeit würde der ICNIRP sehr gut zu Gesicht stehen. Es ist beschämend, dass ein in Deutschland eingetragener Verein sich nicht mehr in seiner Landessprache ausdrückt. Hat es vielleicht den Hintergrund, dass viele des Englischen unkundige Bürger die Vorgänge in der ICNIRP nicht mehr durchblicken sollen? In keinem anderen Land wäre so eine solche Diskriminierung der eigenen Sprache hinnehmbar. Aber unsere eigenen Organisationen sind Meister in der Verleugnung der eigenen Nationalität. Der ICNIRP ist ein solches Verhalten nicht würdig.

Zur Arbeitsweise der ICNIRP: Wenn die ICNIRP eine ehrliche Bewertung der wissenschaftlichen Arbeiten vornehmen würde, hätte sie schon längst für eine Senkung der Grenzwerte plädieren müssen. Da aber die Mitglieder der ICNIRP nach persönlichem Gutdünken festsetzten welche wissenschaftliche Arbeit gewürdigt und wie bewertet wird, kommen nur solche Arbeiten zum Zug die entsprechend industriefreundlich sind und keine Gefährdung der Umwelt durch Mikrowellen feststellen. Der leider schon verstorbene, international renommierte Forscher, Prof. Dr. Neil Cherry, hat 1998 zu den ICNIRP-Bewertungen festgestellt: "Die ICNIRP-Bewertung von Wirkungen wurde durchgesehen und als ernsthaft fehlerbehaftet befunden, sie enthält ein Muster von Voreingenommenheiten, bedeutenden Fehlern, Weglassungen und absichtlichen Verdrehungen. Falls sie angenommen wird, verfehlt sie den öffentlichen Gesundheitsschutz.“ Soviel zu den wissenschaftlichen Bewertungen der ICNIRP.

Ferner führen Sie aus, dass die ICNIRP von nachgewiesenen biologischen Effekten ausgeht. Auch das ist falsch, die Grenzwertfestsetzung beruht ausschließlich auf wissenschaftlich nachgewiesenen Schädigungen und nicht auf Effekten. Wenn das so wäre, hätten wir schon längst Grenzwerte, die um den Faktor 1.000 oder 10.000 niedriger wären.

Weiter führen Sie an, das Rundfunk- und Fernsehsender um Größenordnungen höhere Sendeleistungen haben als Mobilfunkbasisstationen. Es ist sehr bedauerlich, dass Sie als Vertreter der ICNIRP nicht zwischen Emissionen und Immissionen unterscheiden können. Es ist biologisch nicht relevant welche Sendeleistung ein Sender hat, sondern welche Leistungsflussdichte bei den Betroffenen ankommt. Hier muss ich Ihnen allerdings mitteilen, dass in der Regel die Belastungen durch Mobilfunkstationen um Größenordnungen höher sind als durch Radio- und Fernsehsender. Der messtechnische Nachweis kann für diese Aussage gerne öffentlich erbracht werden. Ihre weiteren Ausführungen: in vielen landesweiten Messaktionen wurde daher gezeigt, dass Mobilfunkbasisstationen üblicherweise nur einen recht kleinen Anteil an den Gesamtimmissionen eines Standortes haben, bedürfen einer Klarstellung. Bei Entfernungen unter 100 Meter von einer MF-Basisstation ist ihre Aussage falsch, erst bei Entfernungen über 400 Meter entspricht sie der Realität.

Mit ihrer Aussage, da es die Anwendung von hochfrequenten Feldern seit Jahrzehnten gibt, offenbart die ICNIRP, dass sie den Unterschied zwischen ungepulster und gepulster Strahlung als biologisch unbedeutend einstuft. Eine traurige Fehleinschätzung wie Praxis und Studien zeigen. Auch Ihre Ausführungen, dass es keine Studien gibt, die eindeutig belegen,"dass diese Strahlung weit unter den Grenzwerten krank macht" offenbart die überaus mobilfunkfreundliche Einstellung der ICNIRP, oder sind Studien von Hutter, Santini, Navarro, Oberfeld u.a. nur bei ihnen noch nicht angekommen?

Omega siehe unter:
http://www.buergerwelle.de/body_wissenschaft.html
http://www.buergerwelle.de/body_science.html

Ihr Brief offenbart leider in erschreckender Weise die industriehörige Haltung der ICNIRP. Den Vertretern dieser Organisation bedeuten eine intakte Umwelt und die Gesundheit der Menschen leider nur sehr wenig. Sie werden sicher dafür Verständnis haben, dass wir Ihre Mailnachricht und meine Antwort einer breiteren Bevölkerungsschicht zugänglich machen. Es gibt immer noch zu viel Menschen, die glauben, dass Organisationen wie die ICNIRP unsere Gesundheit vorbeugend schützen.


Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Dr. Claus Scheingraber
(Bürgerinitiative Mobilfunk Kirchheim)


Eine Geschädigte unter Tausenden
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/598166/



M.f.G.

Alfred Tittmann
c/o HESSISCHER LANDESVERBAND MOBILFUNKSENDERFREIE WOHNGEBIETE e.V.

--------

Für eine befriedigende Handy-Verbindung im D- oder E-Netz reicht eine Immission von 0,01 µW/m², der für die Gesundheit akzeptable Salzburger Vorsorgewert liegt bei 10 µW/m², also um den Faktor 1000 höher. Es ist also beides zugleich möglich, nämlich eine befriedigende Handy-Verbindung und ein Schutz der Gesundheit durch die Begrenzung nach dem Salzburger Vorsorgewert. Warum also gibt es Probleme?

Die gesetzlich gültigen ICNIRP-Grenzwerte (9 W/m² im E-Netz und 4,5 W/m² im D-Netz) liegen um fast eine Million über dem Salzburger Vorsorgewert; sie berücksichtigen nur die Energiebilanz im menschlichen Körper; ihre Einhaltung schützt nicht vor gesundheitlichen Schäden infolge von Signalen, die in lebenden Organismen durch Mikrowellenimpulse ausgelöst werden und die Nerven- und Immunsysteme stören können. Für diese Schäden gibt es bisher keine Gesetze.

http://omega.twoday.net/stories/757327/

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/10910077.htm?1c


Informant: NHNE

http://afr.com/articles/2005/02/17/1108500186993.html


Informant: NHNE

The EU research study results are reported in the Electronics World, March 2005 edition, as follows:

A four year £ 2.2m EU Study carried out in Germany has concluded that radiation from active Mobile Phone handsets affects the living organism's DNA. Researchers led by Franz Adlkofer found that cells mutated in a way that could not be stopped and which could lead to cancer, particularly in the elderly. The mutation is caused by highly reactive groups of atoms and molecules released by microwave signals.

A further article by Mike Brookes of the European Low Power Radio Association (Trade Organization for the Radio Communications Industry) in the same edition warns directly of the likelihood of litigation now that these Health Effects have been established.

Sian

From Mast Network

#117 WILD NORTHWEST, February 15, 2005
A Message from Northwest Ecosystem Alliance
=====Keeping the Northwest Wild=====

Protect Endangered Mountain Caribou

Help avert a massive heli-ski proposal in inland temperate rainforest

A massive heli-ski operation proposed by BearPaw Heli-skiing for the Rocky Mountains east of Prince George, BC, would overlap prime wintering habitat for approximately one-quarter of the world's last remaining mountain caribou, putting at even higher risk the future of an animal more endangered than the black rhino. Winter is the most critical time for caribou survival, a season when they are under nutritional stress.

Please go to http://www.wildcanada.net/caribou by March 18 to send a free fax. (Although the web site says Feb. 11, the public comment date was recently extended to March 18.) Demand that the BC government protect mountain caribou and deny this 0.5 million hectare (1.25 million acre) recreation proposal on Crown (public) lands in Canada. Because the US is a key target market for tourism, it is helpful for the BC government to hear from Americans on these issues.

Uniquely adapted to the inland temperate rainforest of south-eastern BC and parts of Washington, Idaho, and Montana, mountain caribou are found nowhere else in the world. Logging of old-growth forests, historic over-hunting, and a sharp increase in backcountry recreation have resulted in a rapid decline of mountain caribou; today only 1,670 animals remain. In the last two years the BC government has engaged in a massive commercial give-away of BC's backcountry, granting tenures to snowmobile touring companies, heli-ski and heli-hike companies, back-country lodges, and huge resort proposals such as the Jumbo four-season alpine resort planned for the Purcell Mountains. The cumulative impacts on BC's wildlife and wild spaces is immense. Your voice today can help curtail these effects.

For more information on mountain caribou, visit http://www.mountaincaribou.org.
Find a map of current and historic mountain caribou range at http://www.forestethics.org/html/eng/894.shtml#map.

Please reply to this email to let us know that you sent a letter. And thanks for taking action to keep the greater Northwest wild!

"...substantial and continuing decline in the mountain caribou population is serious and requires urgent government attention."
~BC Forest Practices Board report, September 2004

"(t)he proposal as it stands continues to expose mountain caribou to high risk of environmental degradation and population decline."
~BC Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection

Erin Moore
Communications Coordinator
Northwest Ecosystem Alliance
1208 Bay St., Ste. 201
Bellingham, WA 98225
360.671.9950 ext. 24